Wednesday, March 28, 2018

How Many Clicks Does It Take

Just How Many ‘Clicks’ & Views Does It Take To Get In?

We are living in a very ‘noisy’ time. Crowded markets vie for our limited attention, each crying louder and longer. We are being constantly bombarded by sounds and images that promote ideas, products, and beliefs.

This constant disharmony makes it increasingly difficult to focus on any one thing. To weigh choices, make informed decisions and to choose. Each day as we make our way up the ladder we are surrounded by the frenzied, howling masses scrabbling for our last dollar or last bit of attention. We learn, whether by choice or necessity, to tune the bulk of these distractions out, to not hear the clamoring and the crying, we minimize our attention and move on. If this is a result of self-preservation, a product of our environment, how can you reach your client? How do you make the sale? How do you ‘touch’ the customer so that they remember you and your product?

We’re all busy people. We all know what it takes; Emails, texts, post, social media – these and other combinations all working to get our attention.

What you may not know is that research has shown that it takes, on average, seven instances of receiving a marketing ‘touch’ before you remember a company’s product or service. So, it not only ‘makes sense’ to ensure that you put together an integrated marketing campaign, it is an essential aspect of being remembered.

When it comes to lead generation, whether you’re targeting new business or maintaining current clients, you need to be creative with your marketing. According to Dan Cadieux from 360 Leads  there are many ways to perform Lead Generation but there are 4 Key Principles that apply to all Lead Generation Activities, they are:

  • Find your target audience~ determine what group you want to attract with your lead generation activities.
  • Communication is key in any relationship- do not just tell them what you are selling/offering. Tell them a relatable story that demonstrates why they NEED YOU. Your message must be loud, you have to be heard over all the “noise”.
  • Data collection is vital for a successful lead generation. Collecting data is part 1, then all your activities must incorporate the collection of prospect data.  Once these steps are done then, it is then possible to go move to the next stage.
  • The final key is to nurture the leads. This is the most crucial stage, this where leads are converted into customers.  You have the leads, now don’t just treat as a feather in your cap, build relationships so they are no longer leads but are now clients.

As an entrepreneur or business owner, you already know that it costs more to bring a new client in then it does to keep an old one. Why then after your investment of time and resources to generate new business would you risk the loss of those clients because you haven’t kept them engaged? Because you haven’t nurtured your leads? As an award-winning marketing agency Larson & Associates understands the importance of developing effective strategies to do this and we stand ready to share this knowledge with you.

Research has shown that businesses can expect an ROI of $38 for every $1 spent on email marketing, 
There are literally hundreds of examples of different marketing strategies that you can choose from to target customers, move your Find your target audience~ determine what group you want to attract with your lead generation activities.
  • Communication is key in any relationship- do not just tell them what you are selling/offering. Tell them a relatable story that demonstrates why they NEED YOU. Your message must be loud, you have to be heard over all the “noise”.

  • Data collection is vital for a successful lead generation. Collecting data is part 1, then all your activities must incorporate the collection of prospect data.  Once these steps are done then, it is then possible to go move to the next stage.

  • The final key is to nurture the leads. This is the most crucial stage, this where leads are converted into customers.  You have the leads, now don’t just treat as a feather in your cap, build relationships so they are no longer leads but are now clients.

Email These don’t have to be long and drawn out, just short and effectively direct and to the point telling the reader what they need to know and how it can benefit them. That’s what successful email marketing is all about.

• In a business so much is done via email but often times email is not used to just keep in touch.
• Email has replaced pen and paper, use it to write personal notes to prospects.
• A company should use the email addresses of prospects it has collected to provide them with valuable information, newsletters, whitepapers, etc.
• Automated email software can also improve the nurturing process if used properly
Whether in a series or a single carefully crafted email about your offer, product or service, it’s vital that the email gets noticed before they have a chance to hit ‘delete’.
Larson & Associates development and design team provides the specific direction and content your business needs to get noticed. We work with you to develop strategies that make the difference!  

Direct Mail If you’re looking for a way to get yourself noticed and get your ‘foot’ in the door then direct mail quite literally opens those doors. This time-tested tool of client-based communication is still a stand-out in today’s technology-driven world.
Many times, the humble DM is the only ‘touch’ opportunity you get to make, so make it count! Creating an engaging copy with a ‘hook’ is the key to catching your customer’s eye when your DM campaign hits their mailbox. Once again, making the message relevant to your clients and their needs is what is important. Larson & Associates team of creatives is ready to suggest ideas that will give your product or service the ‘hook’ you need to stand out.

Data from HubSpot shows us that businesses that blog around 16 times or more per month get 3.5 times more traffic and 4.5 times more leads than businesses that blog less than 4 times a month.
Social The word Nurture means “to care for and encourage the growth and development of someone”. Nurturing in a business context is “encouraging a prospect to develop into a customer”. Prospects will be encouraged to become customers if they have a need that you demonstrate you can fill.
You can do that by further demonstrating your expertise and putting yourself in your prospects shoes, showing you understand their needs.
• On social media sites like LinkedIn and Twitter you have to Nurture & develop a relationship
• Comment on and Like the LinkedIn posts of your prospects
• On Twitter re-tweet your prospects tweets, show that you care about them
• They will then watch you and give you a chance to further demonstrate your expertise

At Larson & Associates, we take the time to understand you and your needs. We help you develop the strategies that keep you and your customers satisfied. We help you implement the plans that make the difference.
Telemarketing With the right approach and the right team, telemarketing is maybe the most effective way to connect with your clients, as well as generate new leads in any marketing campaign.
One approach is to just call your customer base using it as a ‘Customer Courtesy call’ strategy. This has the advantage of keeping your name on the clients ‘radar’ and provides updates about current products and promotions. It also allows you to explore potential needs and circumvent nascent problems. Additionally, this ‘one-on-one’ time provides opportunities to discover more about your clients – who they are, what they want and what makes them ‘tick’. This also a great technique when integrated into your existing program, a follow-up call may be used as a part of the email and/or direct mail strategy.
• Don’t forget what you carry around in your pocket, a phone
• Most people use their phones for everything except talking on it
• Pick up the phone and keep in touch with prospects, nurture the relationship
• Companies might need a reason to call,
• Do a survey: a customer satisfaction survey for customers
• For prospects do a research-based survey finding out their challenges in relation to your industry or product
• Share the findings with them, it’s a way of showing you understand their needs
• Make appointments for your sales reps, have a company call your prospects and try to set up appointments for your sales reps to meet with them.
At Larson & Associates, we take steps to understand your business and your needs. We can provide the logistics and the information, keeping you in contact with your current and future clients. 

Fact is every time you touch a prospect, every channel you use, when you send out and interconnect and entwine your message the odds of engagement and success increase and when think you’re done, make one more follow up phone call to your list.
So, how many clicks does it take? short answer, all of them. Like your business, it is an ongoing challenge that when done right grows, grows exponentially with your business. You are limited only by your imagination when it comes to finding ways to overcome the obstacles to your success. There are no magic formulas or secret codes that can guarantee success in marketing or in business. There are tried and true methods, paths taken and lessons learned by others who blazed the trails ahead of you, we here at Larson & Associates want to be your guides through this noisy and frenetic wilderness. We have the tools and the technology to lead you in the right direction, to succeed. Let the journey begin!


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